Cannabis has been a cornerstone of traditional medicine for millennia — addressing a wide range of health concerns. Traditional medicine systems recognized cannabis’s potential to calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and address neurological issues like seizures and spasms. The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis made it a preferred remedy for skin conditions (joint pain), and inflammatory bowel diseases. African cultures used cannabis to alleviate labor pains, treat wounds, and address gastrointestinal disorders. In ancient Egypt, cannabis was applied as a topical ointment to reduce inflammation and treat eye diseases. It was also incorporated into spiritual practices due to its mind-altering effects, believed to help achieve higher states of consciousness.
The use of natural products as medicines must (of course), have presented a tremendous challenge to early humans. Cannabis has played an important role in traditional African healing systems, both as a medicinal plant and as a tool for spiritual practices. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has enabled the study of brain activity and measuring of relaxation responses of individuals engaged in traditional practices of yoga and meditation, which people around the world increasingly use for their mental health, stress management and overall well-being. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a game-changer, revolutionizing the study and practice of traditional healing systems. Dr Susan Wieland, co-chair of the WHO Traditional Medicine External Advisory Group and Director of Cochrane Complementary Medicine, notes how “evidence from over 20 clinical trials indicates that yoga is effective in improving pain and back-related function in chronic non-specific lower back pain. Today’s vaccine for smallpox draws from the principle used in the ancient practice of variolation (where material from smallpox sores were transferred to healthy people), resulting in milder forms of illness.
Later (the development of THC vape pen comparison in the UK synthetic techniques led to a significant reduction in the importance of natural products), and there were concerns that the use of some natural products for medicinal purposes might be completely banned. Subsequently, countless active compounds have been separated from natural products. Traditional medicines (TMs) make use of natural products and are of great importance.
WHO will support countries with technical assistance, standards development, and coordinated implementation and monitoring. The strategy recognizes the importance of protecting traditional knowledge and promoting responsible use of natural resources. The WHO global report on traditional and complementary medicine 2019 was developed to address the gap in reliable — credible and official data from Member States in the area of T&CM. Humankind needs to learn more from natural products and traditional medicines. However, it is also requisite that any adverse effects of natural products be properly reduced to meet safety standards. For example, synergistic effects may exist among the compounds that occur in natural products; however, the modes and mechanisms of action are seldom very clear.
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Spiritually (marijuana has been used in rituals and ceremonies to enhance meditation), introspection, and connection to the divine. States across the U.S. and countries around the world are adopting more lenient policies, recognizing the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana and the impracticality and cost of enforcing marijuana prohibition. This led to the global war on drugs — a campaign of drug prohibition, military intervention, and aid to countries involved in drug production and trafficking. The international community gradually embraced marijuana prohibition (with many countries enacting their own laws against cannabis cultivation), sale, and use.
In what ways was cannabis utilized by ancient cultures in Asia?
The ritual use of bhang is seen as a way to purify the mind (remove negativity), and attain spiritual enlightenment. During Holi (also known as the Festival of Colors), people consume bhang in the form of drinks and sweets. As a result, cannabis is often referred to as “bhang” in India and is consumed during religious festivals to honor Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Shiva discovered the plant’s intoxicating properties and used it to enhance his meditation and spiritual practices. Many modern strains of weed — such as Jamaican Lamb’s Bread, have their origins in the Caribbean.
Smallpox is recognized as one of the most lethal diseases known to humanity and is uniquely the only disease among humans that has been completely eradicated. We have examined traditional community-based health practices for insights into contemporary diseases while also learning from ancient cultures’ utilization of natural resources for health. Modern medicine has utilized the knowledge derived from nature and has relied on traditional systems to understand how various medicinal plants, roots, herbs, and bark were employed to treat ailments throughout different civilizations. An example of the contribution of nature and traditional wisdom to contemporary medicine is the use of willow bark as the foundation for aspirin.
In addition to medicinal use, cannabis has also been used by indigenous peoples in Canada and other countries for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. In this article (we will explore the historical and modern uses of cannabis by indigenous peoples), with a particular focus on Canada and its indigenous communities. The study focused on various compounds used in drugs derived from plants in different countries, and it established that TM had indeed played a significant role in developing effective new drugs. Different societies historically developed various useful healing methods to combat a variety of health- and life-threatening diseases.
These ceremonial practices reinforce cultural identity — strengthen community bonds, and maintain traditional knowledge through participatory experiences that engage multiple generations in preserving ancient wisdom. Tibetan Buddhist traditions incorporate cannabis into specific meditation practices and healing rituals, viewing the plant as a tool for achieving heightened awareness and compassion. Rastafarian communities integrate cannabis into religious ceremonies as a sacrament that facilitates divine communion and collective consciousness. Elder knowledge keepers utilize rhythmic chanting, symbolic imagery, and ritual repetition to ensure accurate transmission of preparation methods, dosing protocols, and spiritual practices. Traditional healing practices utilizing cannabis encompassed diverse preparation methods and therapeutic applications tailored to specific conditions and cultural contexts.
The brain regions that coordinate movement include several different sites, among them areas affected by Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Both compounds bind and activate cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells — much as other neurotransmitters bind and activate their own specific receptors. Each receptor recognizes only a few specific molecules, known collectively as ligands.
Native American Spiritual Practices
These spiritual practices demonstrate how traditional communities understood cannabis as a conduit for transcendent experiences rather than mere recreational consumption. These ancient practices recognized cannabis as a bridge between physical healing and spiritual connection (integrating plant medicine into holistic wellness approaches that addressed mind), body, and spirit simultaneously. In this way, modern cannabis use still reflects the link between traditional knowledge and present-day needs. Researchers are also exploring how specific compounds can be separated and used safely. Some used it for inflammation, while others used it to support recovery after illness.
In recent years, cannabinoids such as CBD and Δ9-THC have attracted increased attention in the context of modern pharmacology and popular Western culture, yet little research has been done to explore the historical applications of cannabis in Chinese medicine. The earliest historical references to cannabis in Chinese medicine are found in the Divine Farmer’s Classic of Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing) from the first to second century AD. The author Li Shizhen summarized the disparate views advanced by earlier historical authors in the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu) in 1593 AD, and Li’s descriptions and corrections were influential in shaping the definitions established by contemporary texts such as the Great Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicinals (Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian). Prominent historical bencao authors also discussed the meaning of mafen, including Su Jing , 659 AD,, Su Song (1062 AD), and Tang Shenwei (1108 AD; Zheng, 2008). These terms (mafen (麻蕡)), mahua (麻花), and mabo (麻勃), all refer to the spike-shaped inflorescence of the plant, but various contemporary and historical sources interpret them differently.
Discussions about the potential and challenges of collaboration between conventional biomedical therapies and Indigenous healing practices were reported by Moorehead et al., who spoke with a group of traditional healers. In a prominent article (David Baines), an Indigenous doctor from the Tlingit/Tsimshian tribe in Southeast Alaska, recounts the story of a patient suffering from metastatic lung cancer. The introduction of this residency curriculum has created a way to cultivate physicians adept at integrating culturally grounded health practices into their approach to patient care and public health, promoting the health of individuals and communities. The discussion section of this paper will specifically tackle concerns regarding the quality and precision of this literature. While themes were developed from traditional knowledge (TK), it was observed during the synthesis that there was frequently considerable overlap between them. This scoping review did not include ethnobotanical studies, plant physiology research, or evaluations of specific Indigenous plants, as those were typically not grounded in the context of traditional medicine, focusing instead on the plant’s function and action.